Detroit acquired defensive lineman Cleveland Elam, who…
Detroit acquired defensive lineman Cleveland Elam, who appeared in eight games with four starts for the Lions in 1979. That gave Detroit some immediate use, but his stay was short and did not become a durable return. The longer view produces a C grade for Detroit Lions. San Francisco earns a B+ and Detroit a C.
Detroit Lions Received
- player Cleveland Elam
San Francisco 49ers Received
- pick 1980 second round pick (#30) [later traded to Minnesota Vikings for 1980 second round pick (#39-Keena Turner) and 1980 third round pick (#65-Jim Miller (Gordon))]
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
Detroit Lions received Cleveland Elam, while San Francisco 49ers received 1980 second round pick (#30) [later traded to Minnesota Vikings for 1980 second round pick (#39-Keena Turner) and 1980 third round pick (#65-Jim Miller (Gordon))]. The transaction is best judged by the football value those assets ultimately produced for the teams that acquired them, rather than by draft position or name recognition alone.
What Detroit Lions Received
Detroit acquired defensive lineman Cleveland Elam, who appeared in eight games with four starts for the Lions in 1979. That gave Detroit some immediate use, but his stay was short and did not become a durable return.
What San Francisco 49ers Received
San Francisco received Detroit's 1980 second-round pick, No. 30. The 49ers later sent that selection to Minnesota for picks No. 39 and No. 65, turning one premium choice into two selections. No. 39 became Keena Turner, a long-term 49ers linebacker.
How the Value Developed
The value gap comes from what San Francisco preserved and converted. Detroit received part-season veteran help, while the 49ers held a high second-round asset and then multiplied it into two picks. Turner alone became a major piece of San Francisco's defense, making the pick side substantially more valuable in hindsight.
Why the Difference Matters
The important distinction is realized team value. Detroit Lions and San Francisco 49ers each acquired something usable, but the length, role and quality of the resulting contributions were not equal. That difference is what drives the hindsight grades without exaggerating the importance of a standard-tier transaction.
Final Verdict
San Francisco earns a B+ and Detroit a C. Detroit got some short-term service from Elam, but the 49ers' draft capital produced the more durable and consequential outcome. The trade remains a clear San Francisco win without treating every later move as if it came directly from Detroit.